For such a high-adrenaline activity, parasailing has an alarmingly low level of standardized safeguards to mitigate accidents. Virtually nonexistent, as a matter of fact. So when the National Transportation Safety Board recommends tighter monitoring of this growing but mostly unregulated industry, it should be heeded.
Hawaii, of course, with its yearround sunny climate, is a top spot for this recreational activity. Tourists and locals alike thrill to the sensation of being towed above the ocean, 400-500 feet into the air. The assumption is that parasail operators know what they’re doing, and have taken every prudent precaution to guarantee rider safety. For a large part, that’s true. But the lack of stringent safety rules for the industry has taken a serious, sometimes fatal, toll.
In a new report, the NTSB found that there are no regulations for parasail operator training, and no requirements for equipment inspection or for halting operations in bad weather. All that is surprisingly — in Hawaii, we commonly see people dangling from colorful parasails blowing over the ocean.
The NTSB reasonably recommends that the U.S. Coast Guard start licensing parasail operators and inspecting boats. It also urges the Coast Guard to adopt as a regulatory requirement, the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International’s now-voluntary safe practices guide and standards for parasailing operators and equipment.
The NTSB reviewed parasailing accidents since 2009, which killed eight people and injured five. Two of the fatalities were in Hawaii: In 2012, two male tourists were critically injured by being dragged in waters off Kewalo Basin behind a parasail vessel; one died days later. In 2009, a deckhand died after falling about 40 feet into Maunalua Bay when a towline broke.
Among the incidents examined by the NTSB: some victims drowned being dragged through the water; others crashed into buildings or power lines; one died when a worn-out harness separated from the flight bar.
Human error by operators was found to be the main cause of parasailing accidents, a reflection of "poor judgment, lack of sufficient experience, improper training." Other accident contributors included poorly maintained gear, ignorance on overloading tow lines and equipment, and failure to monitor shifting winds and weather.
Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources issues permits for 14 parasail operators: six on Oahu, six on Maui and two on Hawaii island. Permits go to the highest bidder, a DLNR spokeswoman said, and all must meet state insurance requirements and abide by Coast Guard regulations.
Hawaii’s process, though, bears review for thoroughness and stringency. It’s certainly more hands-off than what Florida just enacted, spurred by accidents there in recent years. Effective Oct. 1, Florida’s new parasailing law establishes requirements for liability insurance, requires safety briefings for all passengers, and operational requirements about weather conditions.
Most in the parasail industry support NTSB’s call for stricter regulation, agreeing on the need. They cite concerns for safety, of course, but also the need to hedge against higher insurance costs that more accidents could bring.
Fun in the sun is a perk of being in Hawaii’s tropical paradise. But fun-seekers have an expectation when engaging in paid recreational activities — even high-thrill ones — that basic safety thresholds exist, and are met. Hawaii and other venues popular for parasailing need to raise the regulatory safety bar for the good of the industry — and for its customers who literally put their lives in their hands.
